14th April 1471 Battle of Barnet

On 14 Apr 1471 Edward IV (age 28) commanded at the Battle of Barnet supported by his brothers George (age 21) and Richard (age 18), John Babington (age 48), Wiliam Hastings (age 40) (commanded), Ralph Hastings, William Norreys (age 30), William Parr (age 37), John Savage (age 49), William Bourchier Viscount Bourchier (age 41), Thomas St Leger (age 31), John Tuchet 6th Baron Audley, 3rd Baron Tuchet (age 45), Thomas Burgh 1st Baron Burgh of Gainsborough (age 40), John Scott (age 48) and Thomas Strickland.

The Yorkists William Blount (age 29), Humphrey Bourchier (age 36), Henry Stafford (age 46) and Thomas Parr were killed.

Humphrey Bourchier 1st Baron Cromwell (age 40), was killed. Baron Cromwell extinct.

The Lancastrians ...

Warwick the Kingmaker (age 42) was killed. Earl Salisbury, Baron Montagu and Baron Montagu forfeit on the assumption he was attainted either before or after his death; the date of his attainder is unknown. If not attainted the titles may have been abeyant between his two daughters Isabel Neville Duchess Clarence (age 19) and Anne Neville Queen Consort England (age 14).

John Neville 1st Marquess Montagu (age 40) was killed. Marquess Montagu, Baron Montagu forfeit; unclear as to when he was attainted. He was buried at Bisham Abbey [Map].

William Tyrrell was killed.

William Fiennes 2nd Baron Saye and Sele (age 43) was killed. His son Henry (age 25) succeeded 3rd Baron Saye and Sele. Anne Harcourt Baroness Saye and Sele by marriage Baroness Saye and Sele.

Henry Holland 3rd Duke Exeter (age 40) commanded the left flank, was badly wounded and left for dead, Henry Stafford and John Paston (age 27) were wounded, John de Vere 13th Earl of Oxford (age 28) commanded, and John Paston (age 29) and William Beaumont 2nd Viscount Beaumont (age 33) fought.

Robert Harleston (age 36) was killed.

Thomas Hen Salusbury (age 62) was killed.

Thomas Tresham (age 51) escaped but was subsequently captured and executed on the 6th of May 1471.

Chronicle of Jean de Waurin. [13 Apr 1471] The King, having arrived in the said town of Barnet, upon hearing this news from his scouts, did not allow anyone to stay in the town but ordered everyone to march to the fields with him. However, as night was approaching and he could not see his enemies who, as mentioned, were arranged in battle formation, he and his entire army lodged closer to them than he had thought. There, he placed his men in good order, commanding that no noise or disturbance be made that night.

Both armies were well stocked with all sorts of gunpowder engines, but the Earl, by far, had more than the King. Therefore, all night long, hoping to make the King and his army retreat by the fire of his engines, he ordered continuous shooting. However, their shots passed over the entire army without causing harm, and the reason was that they were much closer to the enemy than they had thought. Thus, the King and all his people remained quiet that night, without making any noise or shooting any engines. Consequently, their enemies could not clearly discern the location where he was lodged, which proved very advantageous for him and his people.

Le roy doncques venu en ladite ville de Barnet, entendant ces nouvelles par ses ditz avantcoureurs ne voult souffrir que nulz sejournast en ladite ville, ains commanda que chascun tyrast auz champz en sa compaignie; mais pour ce que la nuit aprochoit et quil ne povoit nullement veoir ses annemis qui, comme dit est, estoient rengies en bataille, il se loga et tout son ost plus prez deulz quil ne cuidoit, ou il mist ses gens en bonne ordonnance, commandant que celle nuit nul ne menast bruit ou noise.

Les deux ostz estoient moult bien garnis de tous engiens a pouldre, mais le comte sans comparoison en avoit plus que le roy, et pour ce, toute la nuit, cuidant faire reculler le roy et son ost par le trait de ses engiens, commanda que toute la nuit on ne cessast de tyrer; mais leur trait passoit tout oultre larmee sans les gre ver, et la cause fut pour ce quilz estoient plus prez des annemis beaucop quilz ne cuidoient; et la le roy et tout son peuple se tindrent celle nuit tous coys, sans noise faire ne nulz engiens gecter, parquoy ses annemis ne peurent plainernent congnoistre la place ou il estoit logie, ce quy fut a luy et auz siens moult prouffitable.

Chronicle of Jean de Waurin. [14 Apr 1471] The next morning, as the day began to break, the King rode through his army, giving courage to his men, reminding them that, as he had a just cause and a true quarrel, he proposed, God willing, to fight his enemies. Then, around five or six in the morning, despite the great noise at that time, he entrusted and placed his cause in the will of Almighty God, advancing, unfurling his banners, and sounding his trumpets.

The archers of the King's battle began to shoot arrows powerfully, and soon they engaged hand-to-hand combat where their enemies courageously met them. It was a cruel and deadly battle, where many brave men were killed and wounded. At the onset, the forces of Warwick defended themselves valiantly, causing great disorder and casualties at one end of the King's battle, leading some to flee, with some even reaching London, causing great disturbance in the city. However, the rest of the battle, where the valiant king was, remained steadfast, as nothing of this unfortunate event was apparent due to the hindrance caused by the noise.

News that King Edward and his entire army had been defeated was falsely spread throughout the surrounding country. But, as it pleased God, it was quite the opposite, as you will hear. Great feats of arms were performed by the King's party, especially by his own person, for he, being valiant, courageous, and bold, placed himself in the midst and in the thickest of the melee, where no one stood before him without being brought down to the ground; also, with great chivalry, fought the Dukes of Clarence and Gloucester, brothers of the King, as did the Earl Rivers, the Lord Hastings, and several other valiant men, servants, and good friends of King Edward.

From the adverse party, the Lord Montagu, brother to the Earl of Warwick, also performed wonders, cutting down heads and arms and everything he encountered. But, despite his knightly courage and great boldness, he was finally brought down to the ground and mortally wounded. Upon learning of this, the Earl of Warwick, his brother, was greatly angered and terrified, as one who had lost all courage, indeed almost confused and defeated.

But in the end of the cruel battle, victory remained with King Edward, who routed all the rebels, where the Earl of Warwick was slain. Many knights and noble men from his side were also killed, whose names I do not know. The Duke of Exeter, siding with Warwick, was also brought down to the ground, severely wounded and thought to be dead, among the many who were killed, not knowing that it was he. The Earl of Oxford, fleeing, fell in with some fugitives from the North, with whom he made his way towards Scotland. This battle, in which victory, by the will of God, the merit of the glorious saints, and through the true cause, remained with King Edward, lasted for the space of four hours. His enemies numbered more than thirty thousand, as was truly known, against nine thousand, no more.

Le demain au matin le roy, voiant le jour crever et poindre, chevaulcha parmy son ost, donnant corage a ses gens, en leur remoustrant que, comme il avoit bon droit et vraye querelle, proposoit, au Dieu plaisir, combattre ses annemis; puis quant ce vint entre chincq et six heures, non obstant la grande bruyne que pour lors il faisoit, recommanda et mist sa querelle en la voullente de Dieu tout puissant, soy advanchant, desploiant ses bannieres et faisant sonner ses trompettes.

La commencerent les archiers de la bataille du roy a tyrer sajettes puissamment, puis tantost se joindirent main a main ou leurs annemis les recheurent courageusement; si fut la, bataille moult cruele et mortele, ou furent maint vaillant homme mort et navre, car de commencement se deffendoient vaillamment les Warewicz, telement que sur lun des boutz de la bataille du roy firent grant destourse et occision, parquoy aulcuns de cest endroit prindrent la fuite, dont les aulcuns fuyrent jusques a Londres, si en fut la cite fort esmeute; mais neantmoins le residu de la bataille, ou le vaillant roy estoit, qui riens navoient aparcheu de la dite malle adventure par lempeschement de la dite bruyne, se maintinclrent moult hardiement.

Par la descomfiture devant declaree sespardirent nouvelles parmy tout le pays denviron que le roy Edouard et tout son ost estoient descomfis, mais, comme il pleut a Dieu, il en fut tout autrement, comme vous orez. La furent faites de grans apartises darmes de la partie du roy, especialement de sa personne, car comme vaillant, corageux et hardy se mist au millieu et au plus fort de la meslee ou nul narrestoit devant luy quil ne feust abattu a terre; moult chevallereusement aussi si porterent les ducz de Clarence et de Clocestre, freres du roy, si firent le comte de Riviere, le seigneur de Hastingues et plusieurs autres vaillans hommes, serviteurs et bons amis du roy Edouard.

De ladverse partie faisoit aussi merveilles le seigneur de Montagu, marquis, frere au comte de Warewic, en destrenchant testes et bracz et tout ce quil encontroit; mais, non obstant son chevallereux corage et grant hardiesse, il fut en fin abattu par terre et navre a mort; de laquele chose le comte de Warewic, son frere, adcertene, fut moult courouchie et effrae, comme cellui qui nul courage en luy navoit, voires presques confus et descomfy.

Mais en fin de la bataille cruele demoura la victore au roy Edouard, quy tourna tous les rebelles en fuite, ou fut occis ledit comte de Warewic, aussi furent plusieurs chevalliers et nobles hommes de sa partie, desquelz je ne scay les noms. Aussi fut abattu par terre le duc dExcestre, tenant le parti de Warewic, moult fort navre et tenu pour mort avec les occis qui en grant nombre estoient, non congnoissant que ce feust il. Le comte de Oxemfort en fuiant enchey en la compaignie daulcuns fugitifz du North, avec lesquelz il tyra vers Escoce. Ceste bataille, dont la victore, par la voullente de Dieu, le merite des glorieuz sains, et moiennant la vraye querelle, demoura au roy Edouard, dura par lespace de quatre heures, et y estoient ses annemis plus de trente mille, comme il fut sceu de vray, contre neuf mille; non plus nen avoit.

Anchiennes Chroniques d'Engleterre Supporting Documents X. 14 Apr 1471. And so, on Easter Day, very early in the morning, the said Warwick and the others named above, having between 20,000 and 24,000 men and knowing of the arrival of my said lord and brother, joined battle in the field. There was such heavy mist that they found themselves so close to each other in a field that, before they could be fully drawn up in formation, they struck at one another. The bodyguard archers of my said lord and brother, and those who had formerly been garrisoned at Calais—whom Warwick had expelled—numbering 800 to 900, swore not to flee the field but to fight to the death, and they fought valiantly. The battle began at 8 o'clock in the morning and lasted until at least 10 o'clock, perhaps longer. My said lord and brother conducted himself so honorably that, although at the start his face had been turned toward the village from which Warwick had come, ten miles from London, called Barnet, he ended the battle with his back to that same village. Many were killed, although the number is still not known, but few on the side of my said lord and brother. Warwick's brother, the Marquis of Montagu, was killed there; and Warwick himself, seeing this and sensing that he was losing, mounted a horse, thinking to escape. But as he was fleeing, he was overtaken by a man who seized him, and as he was being brought back, some recognized him and killed him. My said lord and brother, when told of his capture, rushed to him, hoping to save him, but found him dead, and greatly mourned him. The Dukes of Exeter and Somerset and the Earl of Oxford fled.

Et ainsi que le jour de Pasques, bien matin, le dit Warwicque et autres dessusnommés, aiant bien de XX à XXIIII^m, et sachant la venue de mon dit seigneur et frere, se joindirent aux champs: il faisoit si grant bruynne qu'ilz se trouverrent si prez les ungs des autres en un champ que, avant qu'ilz peussent estre du tout mis en ordonnence, iz frappèrent les ungs sur les autres. Et s'estoient assemblés les archiers de corps de mon dit seigneur et frere, et ceulx qui soloient estre en garnison à Callaix, que Warwicq a fait bouter hors, de VIII à IX cent, qui firent sarement de non fuir du camp, mais combatre jusques à la mort, lesquelx s'i portèrent vaillamment. Et finablement commencherent a VIII heures du matin, et dura la bataille jusques à X heures ou plus; et jusques tant mon dit seigneur et frère se porta si honnestement que, là où il avoit le visage vers!e viiage où Warwicque estoit parti, qui est à dix mil de Londres, nommet Vernet, il se trouva le dos en le fin contre icelui village. Et furent pluiseurs tués, et l'on ne set pas encore le nombre; mais peu du costé de mon dit seigneur et frère. Et illec fu tués le frère de Warwicq, marquis de Montagu; et iceluy Warwicq, ce veant, et sentant qu'il avoit le pire, monta sus ung cheval, soy cuidant sauver; et ainsi qu'il s'en aloit, fu ratains d'ung homme qui le print, et comme il le remenoit, aucuns le congneurent et le tuèrent. Mon dit seigneur et frère, de sa prinse adverti, acourut vers lui, le cuidant sauver; mais il le trouva mort, dont il fist grant regret. Et lesdits ducs d'Excester et Sombresset et conte de Douchefort s'enfuirent.

Memoirs of Philip de Commines Book 3 Chapter VII. 14 Apr 1471. He stayed but two days in the town, for on Easter-eve he marched with all the forces he could collect to give the Earl of Warwick battle: the next day, being Easterday, they met¹, and as they were drawn up, and stood in order of battle one against the other, the Duke of Clarence went over to his brother King Edward, and carried with him near 12,000 men, which was a great discouragement to the Earl of Warwick, and a mighty strengthening to King Edward, who before was but weak.

You have already heard how the negotiation with the Duke of Clarence was managed; yet, for all this, the battle was sharp and bloody: both sides fought on foot; and the king's vanguard suffered extremely in this action, and the earls main battle advanced against his, and so near, that the king himself was engaged in person, and behaved himself as bravely as any man in either army. The Earl of Warwick's custom was never to fight on foot, but when he had once led his men to the charge, he mounted on horseback himself, and if he found victory inclined to his side, he charged boldly among them; if otherwise, he took care of himself in time, and provided for his escape. But now at the importunity of his brother, the Marquis of Montague (who was a person of great courage), he fought on foot, and sent away his horses. The conclusion of all was, that the earl, the Marquis of Montague, and many other brave officers, were killed, for the slaughter was very great. King Edward had resolved, at his departure from Flanders, to call out no more to spare the common soldiers, and kill only the gentlemen, as he had formerly done; for he had conceived a mortal hatred against the commons of England, for having favoured the Earl of Warwick so much, and for other reasons besides, so that he spared none of them at that time. This battle was bravely fought, and on the king's side there were killed 1500 men.

Note 1. The battle was fought upon a plain near Barnet, between London and St. Albans, known by the name of Gladsmore Heath,

Hanserecesse Volume 6. 14 Apr 1471. In the early morning at daybreak, around 4 o'clock, both sides engaged, but a very thick fog descended, as it did also in London, so dense that no one could clearly see the other. Eventually, the cannon on King Edward's side overpowered Warwick's artillery, and Edward's men fought so bravely that it was astonishing—they fired so many arrows that more than 10,000 were broken and lay scattered on the ground. They fought so fiercely that around 3,000 of Edward's troops fled from the rear, although due to the fog, neither side realized this. Edward's men managed to capture about 7,000 horses, and King Henry VI, who had been with the Lancastrian forces, was spirited away and brought halfway between Barnet and St. Albans. But Edward's troops pursued them and, as it is said, recaptured Henry. At last, around 8 o'clock on Easter Day, King Edward won the field, and Warwick and his brother the Marquess of Montagu were both slain, along with many knights and noblemen. On Edward's side, Lord Cromwell (one of Essex's sons), Lord Saye, and Lord Barnes' son and heir, as well as many other knights and nobles, were also killed. Altogether, on both sides, around 1,500 men were slain—God have mercy on their souls. And many more were seriously wounded, mostly in the face and lower body, leaving a very pitiful sight—God make it better.

Also, the Duke of Exeter was seriously wounded, but still managed to slip away. Also, the Earl of Oxford, along with his two brothers and Lord Beaumont, fled. The Duke of Gloucester and Lord Scales were also wounded, but — thank God — not severely. Also, it was reported that Warwick's side had about 3,000 or 4,000 more troops than King Edward's. Also, in the early hours of Easter Sunday, at a time when every good Christian ought to be at prayer, a rumor reached London that Warwick had won the battle, that King Edward had been captured, and that Clarence and Gloucester were dead, etc. This caused many to grieve, while others rejoiced — so that some ruffians in London became emboldened and began looting, which terrified the entire German community, understandably so. But at last, the true news arrived, as previously mentioned: that King Edward had won the battle. And that same Easter Sunday afternoon, King Edward returned to London, bringing King Henry with him, accompanied by his troops. Those who returned with healthy horses and unscathed bodies were fortunate — many others came home deceitfully bandaged, with mutilated faces, missing noses, and wounded limbs. God have mercy on such miserable sights. Everyone says that in 100 years, there had not been a fiercer battle in England than that which took place on Easter Sunday, as has been described. May God henceforth grant us His eternal peace.

Des morgens in der dagerate umbtrynt 4 oren, so hant sii mallich anderen vernomen, doch so is dar eyn sere duyster nevel gecommen, und was ouch in London, dat eyn den anderen nyet wale en hefft konnen gesien. Tom lesten hebben de loitbussen an konyng Edwardes siide Warwick de ordinancie affzewonnen und hebben sich de anderen so manlich gewert, dat it wonder was myt erem geschotte, dat in gantzer warheit ove[r]? 10000 arouwes® zobrochen noch dar ligen, und sich so manlich gewert, dat umbtrynt 3000 van konyng Edwardes volck achter aff flouwen, wilcht doch geyn van beiden partien umb des nevels willen en hefit konnen gemyrcken, und hebben konyng Edwardes volcke genomen gewest wale bii 7000 perden, und konyng Henrich ewech gestollen und bis halff wech tuschen Barnet und sent Albans bracht, dar konyng Edwardes volck doch nagejaget han und hebben Henrich wederkregen, as men segt. Tom lesten so hefft circa 8 oren up den paischdach® konyng Edwart dat velt gewonnen, und Warwick und marcus Montagw, synen broder, beide erslagen myt vele ridderen und edelingen; und an konyng Edwardes siiden is erslazen de lord Kromwel, und was eyn van Essex sonen, item de lord Saye, item de lord Barnes son und eyer und vele anderen ryddere und edelinge, sodat to beiden siiden umbtrynt 1500 man doet bleven sin, Got hebbe de selen. Und myt allen sere vele volckes gewont und meystpart int angesicht und int fundament, eyn sere bermlich gesichte, Got besser it.

Item und is Excester sere gewondet und doch ewech gestollen, item de greve van Oxenford myt synen zwen broderen und lord Beamont syn gefluwen; de herzoch van Glocester und lord Scales syn got gewondet, mer en schadet in, glofft sii Got, nyet. Item und is an Warwicks siide wale bii 3 off 4000 volckes mer gewest, dan an konyng Edwardes siide. Item des morgens in der metten up paischdach, als eyn elck goet kerstenmensche sich myt Gode bekommeren soulde, so qwam de tiidonge in London, dat Warwick tvelt gewonnen hedde, und dat konyng Edward gefangen, Clarens und Glocester doet weren etc. Dar was mannich bedroufft und mencher ervreuwet inne, so dat etzliche boyffen sich vermanden in London und hegonsten to rouffen, darvan alle Dutsche nacie wale verferet syn mochte und was. Doch zom lesten qwam de warafftige tiidonge, as vurscreven is, dat konyng Edward dat velt gewonnen hedde, und des namyddages up paischdach qwam konyng Edward und brachte konyng Henrich myt to huys myt syme volcke. Dwilcke de gode perde und gesund liiff uysbrachten, brachten qwade guyle und gelapde ansichter sonder nasen ete. und gewonde lyber to huys, Got erbarm it des ellendigen sichtes, want alle man segget, dat in 100 jeren nye scharper battaille in Englant gewest en is dan up den goden paischdach lestleden, as vurscreven is, Got verlene uns vortan synen ewigen freden.

History of the Arrival of Edward IV Part 3. 14 Apr 1471. On the morow, betymes, The Kynge, undarstandinge that the day approched nere, betwyxt four and five of the cloke, nawithstandynge there was a greate myste³³ and letted the syght of eithar othar, yet he commytted his cawse and qwarell to Allmyghty God, avancyd bannars, dyd blowe up trumpets, and set upon them, firste with shotte, and, than and sone, they³⁴ joyned and came to hand-strokes, wherein his enemies manly and coragiously receyved them, as well in shotte as in hand-stroks, whan they ioyned; whiche ioynynge of theyr bothe batteyls was nat directly frount to frount, as they so shulde have ioyned ne had be the myste, whiche suffred neythar party to se othar, but for a litle space, and that of lyklyhod cawsed the bataile to be the more crewell and mortall; for, so it was, that the one ende of theyr batayle ovarrechyd th'end of the Kyngs battayle, and so, at that end, they were myche myghtyar than was the Kyngs bataile at the same [end] that ioyned with them, whiche was the west ende, and, therefore, upon that party of the Kyngs battayle, they had a gretar distres upon the Kyngs party, wherefore many flede towards Barnet, and so forthe to London, or evar they lafte; and they fell in the chace of them, and dyd moche harme. But the other parties, and the residewe of neithar bataile, might se that distrese, ne the fleinge, ne the chace, by cawse of [the] great myste that was, whiche wolde nat suffre no man to se but a litle from hym; and so the Kyngs battayle, which saw none of all that, was therby in nothing discoragyd, for, save only a fewe that were nere unto them, no man wiste thereof; also the othar party by the same distres, flyght or chace, were therefore nevar the gretlyar coragyd. And, in lykewise, at the est end, the Kyngs batayle, whan they cam to ioyninge, ovarrechyd theyr batayle, and so distresyd them theyr gretly, and soo drwe nere towards the Kynge, who was abowt the myddest of the battayle, and susteygned all the myght and weight thereof. Netheles upon the same litle distresse at the west end anon ranne to Westmynstar, and to London, and so forthe furthar to othar contries, that the Kynge was distressed, and his fielde loste, but, the lawde be to Almyghty God! it was otharwyse; for the Kynge, trusing verely in God's helpe, owr blessyd ladyes, and Seynt George, toke to hym great haries and corage for to supprese the falcehode of all them that so falcely and so traytorowsly had conspired agaynst hym, wherethrwghe, with the faythefull, wellbelovyd, and myghty assystaunce of his felawshipe, that in great nombar deseveryd nat from his parson, and were as well asswred unto hym, as to them was possyble, he mannly, vigorowsly, and valliantly assayled them, in the mydst and strongest of theyr battaile, where he, with great violence, bett and bare down afore hym all that stode in hys way, and, than, turned to the range, first on that one hand, and than on that othar hand, in lengthe, and so bet and bare them downe, so that nothing myght stande in the syght of hym and the welle asswred felowshipe that attendyd trewly upon hym; so that, blessed be God! he wan the filde there, the perfite victory remayned unto hym, and to his rebells the discomfiture of xxx^m men, s they nombrid them selves.

Note 33. there was a great miste. -- Fabyan writes in the following very prudent manner respecting this mist. "Of the mystes and other impedimentes which fell upon the lordes partye by reason of the incantacyons wrought by fryer Bungey, as the fame went, me lyst nat to wryte." (P.661)

Note 34. sone they, sone ther, in MS.

Warkworth's Chronicle. 14 Apr 1471. But it happenede that he withe his oste were enterede into the toune of Barnet, before the Earl of Warwick (age 42) and his host. And so the Earl of Warwick and his host lay witheoute the towne alle nyght, and eche of them loosede gonnes at othere, alle the nyght. And on Ester day in the mornynge, the xiiij. day of Apryl, ryght erly, eche of them came uppone othere; and ther was suche a grete myste, that nether of them might see othere perfitely; ther they faughte, from iiij. of clokke in the mornynge unto x. of clokke the fore-none. And dyverse times the Earl of Warwick party hade the victory, and supposede that they hade wonne the felde. But it hapenede so, that the Earl of Oxenfordes men hade uppon them ther lordes lyvery, bothe before and behynde, which was a sterre withe stremys, wiche [was] myche lyke Kynge Edwardes lyvery, the sunne with stremys¹; and the myste was so thycke, that a manne mighte not profytely juge one thynge from anothere; so the Earl of Warwikes menne schott and faughte ayens the Earl of Oxenfordes menne, wetynge and supposynge that they hade bene Kynge Edwardes menne; and anone the Earl of Oxenforde and his menne cryed " treasoune! treasoune! " and fledde awaye from the felde withe viij. c. menne. The Lorde Markes Montagu (age 40) was agreyde and apoyntede with Kynge Edwarde, and put uppone hym Kynge Edwardes lyvery; and a manne of the Earls of Warwick sawe that, and felle uppone him, and kyllede hym. And whenne the Earl of Warwick sawe his brothere dede, and the Earl of Oxenforde fledde, he lepte one horse-backe, and flede to a wode by the felde of Barnett, where was no waye forthe; and one of Kynge Edwardes menne hade espyede him, and one came uppone hym and kylled hym, and dispolede him nakede. And so Kynge Edwarde gate that felde.

And ther was slayne² of the Earl of Warwicks party, the Earl hym self, Markes Montagu, Sere William Tyrelle, knyghte, and many other. The Duke of Excetre (age 40) faugth manly ther that day, and was gretely despolede and woundede, and lefte nakede for dede in the felde, and so lay ther from vij. of clokke tille iiij. after none; whiche was take up and brought to a house by a manne of his owne; and a leche brought to hym, and so afterwarde brought in to sancuarij at Westmynster.

And one Kynge Edwardes party was slayne the Lorde Crowmwelle (age 40), sonne and heyre to the Earl of Essex (age 67), Lord Barnes (age 55) sonne and heyre (age 36)³, Lorde Say (age 43)⁴, and dyverse other, to the nombre (of bothe partys) iiij. M^l menne. And, after that the felde was don, Kynge Edwarde commaundyd bothe the Earl of Warwikes body and the Lord Markes body to be putt in a carte, and returned hym with alle his oste ageyne to Londone; and there commaundede the seide ij. bodyes to be layede in the chyrche of Paulis, one the pavement, that every manne mighte see them; and so they lay iij. or iiij. days, and afterwarde where buryede. And Kynge Herry, beynge in the forwarde durynge the bataylle, was not hurt; but he was broughte ageyne to the Toure of Londone, ther to be kept.

Note 1. The sunne with stremys. The crest of the Kynaston coat is supposed to have been assumed from this time, and in allusion to this event.

Note 2. And ther was slayne. A very comprehensive list is given in MS. Arundel, Mus. Brit. 28, fol. 25, vº. The brass matrix of the seal of the Earl of Warwick, taken from him when he was slain, is in the British Museum; an impression may be seen among the charters, xxxiv. 33.

Note 3. Lord Barnes sonne and heyre. Sir Humphrey Bourchier. His gravestone remains in Westminster Abbey, denuded of his figure in brass plate, but retaining an epitaph of fourteen Latin hexameters, commemorative of his prowess and the scene of his death. They commence:

Hic pugil ecce jacens, Bernett fera bella cupiscens, [Here lies a fighter, Bernett, desiring fierce wars]

Certat ut Eacides, &c. &c. [Striving like Achilles.]

See engravings in Gough's Sepulchral Monuments, vol. II. pl. LXXXVI; Harding's Antiquities in Westminster Abbey, pl. VIII. It may be remarked that the word in the eighth line read parvulus by Gough, &c. is really pimulus, i. e. primulus, used instead of primus for the sake of the metre. - J.G.N.

Note 4. Lord Say. This nobleman [William Fiennes 2nd Baron Saye and Sele] was formerly on the Lancastrian side, but received Edward's pardon on the 5th of May, 1462; Chart. Antiq. Mus. Brit. VIII. 13.

Paston Letters Volume 5 782. 18 Apr 1471. 774. Sir John Paston (age 29) to Margaret Paston.

To my Moodre

Moodre, I recomande me to yow, letyng yow wette that, blyssed be God, my brother John (age 27) is a lyffe and farethe well, and in no perell off dethe. Never the lesse he is hurt with an arow on hys ryght arme, be nethe the elbow; and I have sent hym a serjon, whyche hathe dressid hym, and he tellythe me that he trustythe that he schall be all holl with in ryght schort tyme. It is so that John Mylsent is ded, God have mercy on hys sowle! and Wylliam Mylsent is on lyffe, and hys other servants all be askepyd by all lyklihod. Item, as ffor me, I ame in good case, blyssyd be God; and in no joparte off my lyffe, as me lyst my self; for I am at my lyberte iff nede bee.

Item, my Lorde Archebysshop (age 39) is in the Towr; neverthelesse I trust to God that he schall do well i noghe; he hathe a saffe garde for hym and me bothe. Neverthelesse we have ben troblyd syns, but nowe I undrestande that he hathe a pardon; and so we hope well.

Ther was kyllyd uppon the ffelde, halffe a myle ffrom Bernett, on Esterne Daye, the Erle of Warwyk (deceased), the Marqweys Montacu (deceased), Sir William Terrell, Sir Lewes Johns, and dyverse other Esquiers off owr contre, Godmerston and Bothe.

And on the Kynge Edwardes partye, the Lord Cromwell (deceased), the Lord Saye (deceased), Sir Omffrey Bowghsher off owr contre, whyche is a sore moonyd man her, and other peple off bothe part yes to the nomøre off mor then a M^l [1,000].

As for other tythynges, is undrestande her that the Qwyen Margrett is verrely londyd and hyr sone in the west contre, and I trow that as to morow, or ellys the next daye, the Kynge Edwarde wyll depart ffrom hense to hyr warde, to dryve her owt ageyn.

Item, I beseche yow that I may be recomendyd to my cosyn Lomner, and to thanke hym for hys goode wyll to me wardes, iff I had hadde nede, as I undrestoode by the berer heroff; and I beseche you on my behalve to advyse hym to be well ware off hys delyng or langage as yit, ffor the worlde, I ensur yow, is ryght qwesye, as ye schall know with in thys monthe; the peple heer feerythe it soor.

God hathe schewyd Hym selffe marvelouslye lyke Hym that made all, and can undoo ageyn whan Hym lyst; and I kan thynke that by all lyklyod schall schewe Hym sylff as mervylous ageyn, and that in schort tyme; and, as I suppose, offter than onys in casis lyke.

Item, it is soo that my brother is on purveyed off monye. I have holpyn hym to my power and above. Wherffor as it pleasythe yow remembre hym, Wherffor kan not purveye ffor my selffe in the same case.

Wretyn at London the thorysdaye in Esterne weke. I hope hastely to see yow.

All thys bylle most be secrett. Be ye not adoghtyd off the worlde, ffor I trust all schall be wen. Iff it thusse contenewe, I ame not all undon, nor noon off us; and iff otherwyse, then, &c. &c.

Calendar of State Papers of Milan 1471. 26 Apr 1471. 09 Apr 1471. Potenzo Estere. Francia. Milan Archives. 210. Sforza de Bettini of Florence, Milanese Ambassador at the French Court to Galeazzo Maria Sforza, Duke of Milan.

King Edward having again collected from five to six thousand men from Holland and Zeeland, territory of the Duke of Burgundy, landed in England in the Northern parts, with the assistance of some petty lords of the district. There he was once more routed by the troops of the Earl of Warwick, the greater part of those who were with him being slain, and the rest put to flight. That king took refuge in a certain church, in a fortress in what they call a franchise there, in which, from what the said earl writes, he is besieged, and the earl hopes to take him prisoner. It is a difficult matter to go out by the door and then want to enter by the windows. They think he will leave his skin there (el Re Adouardo havendo novamente radunato da cinque in sei mille persone de Olanda et Zelanda paese del Duca de Borgogna e disceso in Inghilterra nel paese de Anort con lo adiuto de alcuni signorotti de dicto paese; dove e stato di nuovo spilliciato dalle genti del Conte di Veruich et morti la magior parte di quelli erano con si ct el resto fugiti. Esso Re se e riducto et salvato in una certa chiesia in forteza in Franchisa, come dicono di qua, ne la quale, per quanto scrive prefato conte lo e assediato ei spera haverlo prisoniero. E dificile cosa uscire per l'uscio et volere entrare per le finestre: stimasi che egli li lassera la pelle!)

The Queen of England embarked these last days, but a contrary wind drove her back again. She is only waiting for a wind to start.

There is no other news worth sending. Your Excellency shall be advised of whatever else may happen. I commend myself to you, humbly begging you to furnish me with provision for five months as I asked, so as to provide me with money which is as necessary in peace as in war, it being necessary to keep up an appearance for the honour of your Excellency.

Beauvais, the 9th April, 1471. [Italian.]

Calendar of State Papers of Milan 1471. 26 Apr 1471. Potenze Estere. Inghilterra. Milan Archives. 213. Copy of some passages from letters of Zannoto Spinula to Master Battista Spinula, his father.

We hope for peace, because some twenty days ago, by the mediation of the Count of Saint Paul, a truce was made between his Majesty the king and the prince here, for three months. The prince here raised the siege of Amiens, and dismissed many of his esquires. The king is in Amiens with his brother and all the lords. Within the period of the truce I hope a peace will be arranged, for otherwise, if war follows, it will destroy those parts. Such considerations will prove a strong inducement to the King of the French to make peace.

I will give you a brief account of the events which have happened in England. King Edward, when he was at Limort, came to London with his power, always saying that he wished to be Duke of York and to have King Henry as king; but that he wished to slay the traitors. So he entered London on Holy Thursday, and he had about 7,000 men with him. The Earl of Warwick with the other lords was not far away from London with about 10,000 men. As he made no account of King Edward, he came towards London to learn about him in order to have a pitched battle (non faciendo conception de rege Edouardo venit versus Londanem ad eum inquirendum pro habendo prelium situm).

When King Edward heard this he came out to meet him, on Holy Saturday, and after a night had intervened, they joined battle, which lasted until the morning of Easter day. King Edward came off victorious, my lord of Warwick (deceased) and his brother, my lord of Montague (deceased), being slain in the battle.

The king afterwards returned to London with their bodies, which he caused to be placed in St. Paul's Church, so that all the people might see them. We have not heard this by letters, however, but by word of mouth from three who say that they saw them, and so we believe it.

The queen was at Southampton (antona) with many ships. You shall hear afterwards what ensues.

Bruges, the 26th April. [Latin.]